The Apostolic Church loses Another E. E. Okon

…As Apostle Aniekan Udoiyak is Laid to Rest Today

…Dedicates Water Factory in His Honour

By Saviour Ekpe

The Apostolic Church Nigeria is one of the Pentecostal Churches that has produced great men and women of God for the propagation of the gospel and edification of the body of Christ. The pioneer National leader of the Church, Late Pastor E.E. Okon was known for a life of holiness, humility, contentment and commitment to the course of taking the gospel to every nook and cranny of Nigeria and beyond. While describing the Late Pastor E.E. Okon, an Ace Journalist in Nigeria, Thomas Thomas puts it this way: “The late Pastor Okon was known for his principled and disciplined lifestyle. That was the more reason he succeeded in evangelizing Christ and planting churches within and outside Nigeria against the wishes of men and principalities of darkness. His success in missionary work was connected to good moral principles and of pursuing a noble purpose. He succeeded in planting and maintaining The Apostolic Church in Nigeria and beyond because he was humble to a ‘fault’. He never thought being the National Leader of the church should translate into an enlarged ego… Pastor E. E. Okon was indeed a great man whose contributions to Christianity, Nigeria and humanity as a whole cannot be quantified; and whose standard is too high to meet by ordinary men except those filled with the spirit of God because it is only it that can guide men to do the biddings of the Creator”.

While men of goodwill are making Eulogistory Of The Late Pastor Edet Eyo Okon years after years of his demise, The Apostolic Church Nigeria again, has been thrown into another mourning mood over the sudden demise of another selfless, dedicated and proactive leader of the The Apostolic Church Nigeria who before his call to glory was the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Territory and Field Superintendent, Ikot Ekpene Field of the Church, Late Apostle Aniekan Otumo Udoiyak.

Late Apostle Aniekan Otumo Udoiyak, born in August, 1960 to late overseer Otumo Udoiyak hailed from Uruk Uso village, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Apostle Udoiyak who actually prepared himself for ministry academically as he acquired various degrees in the College of Education, now University of Uyo between 1978 and 1982; University of Calabar from 1985 – 1988; Common Wealth University, United Kingdom where he obtained his Masters and a Doctorate Degree in Leadership and Management in 2016, started his career as a classroom teacher, rose to the position as school Principal.

The Late Apostle Udoiyak, a born Apostolic started his pastoral ministry in Nto Eton in 1998 as a District Pastor and rose from the ranks to the enviable position he held sway till his demise. He also served at the national level of the church as member of the National Executive Council (N.E.C) since February, 2010. It is on record as a member of the National Executive Council, he served in many committees including Chairman, National Finance Committee, member of National Harmonization Committee among others.

Apart from his effort in the creation of Areas and Fields, He assisted and contributed to the development of now Edem Inyang Eshiet Theological Seminary and helped to facilitate the ongoing affiliation with the University of Uyo. He initiated and facilitated the building of a water factory for The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Akwa Ibom Territory as a veritable source of income for the Territory and which factory had began the production of TACKWA Table Water.

Speaking to Century Newsfront, the Acting Field Superintendent of The Apostolic Church Nigeria Ikot Ekpene Field, Apostle EtopAbasi Akpan described the departed as a great lose given his contributions to the development of humanity, the church and society at large, “the demise of our great leader is a shock to all of us because of how dear he was to us. We are saddened, indeed very saddened because he was more of a father to all of us especially members of the church in the Field though his supervisory role did caught across the entire Territory. This is a man God used to unite the church, build the broken walls and empowered many members of the church in many ways”.

Also speaking, an Area Superintendent of The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Ikot Abia Idem Area in Ikot Ekpene Field, Apostle Joseph Umoh extolled the leadership prowess of the deceased as a man that was full of strength, courage and ideas to do the work of God. Apostle Umoh added that the leadership attribute of the Late Field Superintendent was seen in the numerous projects he embarked for the good of the church and called on leaders at all levels to emulate the qualities of the departed. The burial, according to the church leadership will be conducted today, Wednesday November 11, 2020. According to the Church release, the body would be received for a Commendation Service at The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Territorial Field Temple, Obio Imo Street, Uyo while the Funeral and Thanksgiving Service would be conducted at The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Ikot Ekpene Field Headquarters. The deceased is survived by Wife, Christiana and five children.